Freshmen continue tradition

♦ Pepperell students make handprints for their graduation pledge banner.

Pepperell High School Freshman Academy teachers have gotten creative to ensure that certain traditions continue on despite the pandemic.

One of these traditions is the graduation pledge and handprint banner each class creates as a promise to graduate on time. Usually, the event is done in the hallways of the school and operates like an open house for families and guardians to meet teachers.

Some of the school’s clubs also have booths set up for students to visit and get involved.

At the same time, the students take the pledge to graduate on time.

This year, however, they’re doing the handprints and pledge ceremony separately. Principal Jamey Alcorn hasn’t decided when the ceremony will take place yet, but they’re happy to see the 16-year-old tradition continue at Pepperell.

“It’s a little bit different during pandemic times, but we wanted to give it as much normalcy as possible,” Alcorn said. “We’ll have a handprint ceremony in the auditorium at some point, but it’ll probably be in small groups.”

At a drive-through event Monday evening, students got out of their family cars and walked up to the tables in their masks to do their handprints.

Once their hands were painted and pressed onto the paper, they signed their names at the bottom and walked over to the water truck to wash off the paint. Clay Burkhalter of CAMCO Clean provided the water truck, according to teacher Alana Ellenburg.

Freshman Gracie Hutcheson said she’s really excited about finally being in high school and loves all of her new teachers.

She is a varsity cheerleader for football and basketball at Pepperell. Once she graduates, she hopes to go on to college.

“I’m not 100% sure about what I want to be yet, but I hope to figure it out soon,” she said.

Each banner is displayed in the hallway of the Freshman Academy. Once graduation rolls around, the banner is hung up in the Forum River Center during the ceremony.

Afterwards, it is put in storage by the teachers until the class has their 10-year reunion and the banner is given to the class president.

Olivia Morley Brittany Dorries (left) helps her daughter Alivia Leclair make her handprint for the Pepperell High School graduation pledge banner Monday evening.

Olivia Morley This year’s Pepperell High School senior class chose a tree for their graduation pledge banner.

Olivia Morley Pepperell High School math teacher and alumna Sydney Fuller helps freshman Caleb Davis with his handprint.

Olivia Morley Once they collect all of the handprints of the Pepperell High School freshman class, teachers and students will decide on the banner’s theme for this class. The teachers will then place all of the handprints on the banner using a scanner and Photoshop.

Olivia Morley Pepperell High School freshman Tiyah Ragland gets her handprint done for the graduation pledge banner with the help of teacher Alana Ellenburg.